Health Minister Ferguson has clearly bowed to public and political pressure to open the door to a medicinal cannabis trial in Tasmania, Greens’ Health spokesperson, Cassy O’Connor MP, said today.
“There are times in politics when you need to warmly welcome a government’s backflip on an important issue, and this is one of those times,” Ms O’Connor said.
“The Minister had backed himself into a corner by slamming the door on medicinal cannabis back in May. It’s taken three months for him to wriggle himself out of that corner in a move that I am certain will bring hope to those Tasmanians who are suffering from chronic conditions for which conventional medicines are ineffective.”
“The Greens believe this issue should be progressed in a tripartisan way to ensure not only that a trial takes place in Tasmania, but also that we work constructively in the interests of compassion and common sense and move to legalize medicinal cannabis in Tasmania.”
“Tasmania risks being left behind by New South Wales and Victoria which are moving to legalize medicinal cannabis. It’s an opportunity that we can’t afford to squander on the back of an inflexible ideological opposition to alternative medicines.”
“On behalf of those Tasmanians suffering from debilitating, chronic conditions, I am very pleased that the Minister appears to be seeing the light on this issue,” Ms O’Connor said.
Cassy O’Connor MP | Greens Health spokesperson
